Trooper fires shots during car chase

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - A 14-year-old boy is in custody after an altercation with an Indiana State Police Trooper that ended in gunfire late Saturday morning.

It started when trooper Ron Lowe pulled a car over for speeding in a construction zone. The 14-year-old driver of that car reached for a gun a couple of times and when Lowe removed him from the car and tried to handcuff him he put up a fight.

As the 14-year-old got back in the car and drove off, Lowe started shooting; firing as many as 16 shots. He shot out two tires on the car causing the suspect to bail out and run.

He was arrested by IMPD officers after a foot chase that ended in a nearby apartment complex.

"Fortunately the trooper had observed the gun underneath the car, underneath the car seat, otherwise we could have had a horrible ending with this story. It could have been an injured or killed trooper. The suspect could have been injured or killed as well so we’re very fortunate this incident has ended without any death," ISP Sgt. Dave Burston said.

The 14-year-old is described only as a black male. State Police don’t know who owned the car he was driving or where the gun came from. He faces charges that include two felonies including battery on a police officer.

Lowe is a 15 year veteran of the State Police.